Transportation around Spain
 

We are planning to visit Spain for a month starting in mid-September 2017. We plan to visit/stay in Malaga, Seville, Cordoba, Madrid & Barcelona & maybe others. We plan too book via VRBO city center facilities.
We have look on the methods to travel between cities: car rental, train & bus. We have found the by bus is the most economical. Are the inter-city bus systems of a high standard for 74 year old folks?

The train system is excellent. Look for AVES, which are high speed trains. The buses are good but cars can be a more of burden than a help in the cities. Cars are good when visiting small towns with little access to public transportation.

There are also inexpensive airlines, but there have been complaints lately with Vueling. Check Ryan and Easyjet but be sure to read about all the luggage restrictions and fines.

The buses aren't bad but I much prefer the trains (you can keep an eye on your luggage, you can walk around, and the toilets are better). If you book ahead of time online you can get some good deals. I usually travel second class, but the prices were so good in 2015 I went Preferente instead on some routes. Check renfe.com for schedules and prices and read the info at seat61.com.

BTW, the website for the Spanish trains, RENFE, is maddening, but you do save money if you buy tickets in advance.

To answer your question:- yes, the bus is the most economical and is of an excellent standard for 74 yr old folks. We don't like the train because if you miss the train on which you hold cheap tickets you can't get a refund. We also don't like to plan so much in advance. You might want to leave earlier or stay later, but you must take the train for which you have the cheap tickets. We always rent a car which gives us freedom and if there are two or more passengers, is cheaper than the train.

" is of an excellent standard"

Not my experience. Acceptable (but I'm in my 60s), but in no way excellent. Preferente on the fast trains? That was excellent.

Trains for longer distances where it's a matter of strictly getting from A to B.

But once you're in a region where you'll be staying for a while, I recommend renting a car. If stick shift is a problem, make reservations for an automatic, they are in the minority.

You'll love the freedom to "go look" when you see something interesting, like one of the picturesque "white towns" up on a hill etc.

Roads are very good, even secondary and tertiary country roads, hardly a pothole anywhere, so you can stay off the expressways and enjoy the things you don't get to see at the higher speeds from the expressways.

The only problem with having a car is parking and driving in inner parts of towns and cities - the internet is your friend there, figure out ahead of time where you can go and where you can't, and where you can park.

buses are nice but never IME as nice as trains where you can easily get up and walk around to stretch legs and buses are much slower vs high-speed trains going up to nearly 200mph - but going between say Seville and Granada bus may be just as quick so it depends.

cheapest is not always the best-especially for your age.

For lots of info on Spanish trains check www.renfe.com - Spanish Railways official site-book your own ticket - far in advance you can nab sweet ddiscounts- www.seat61.com - great advise on discount tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

If taking a lot of trains look into the Spain Railpass, which may have a senior rate.

I have had excellent experiences on Spanish trains and have had good experiences with Spanish buses.

FWIW, even with a month, I think you might be a bit ambitious in trying to visit all the places you mention. JMO.

Michelhuebeli - when you say "You'll love the freedom to "go look" when you see something interesting, like one of the picturesque "white towns" up on a hill etc.

Roads are very good, even secondary and tertiary country roads, hardly a pothole anywhere, so you can stay off the expressways and enjoy the things you don't get to see at the higher speeds from the expressways."

I'm wondering just how scary the roads in and around Ronda are...I remember someone else saying they were terrifying. I love country roads, but not steep mountainous ones with hairpin turns. we are looking at a country inn outside of Ronda, but a little concerned about what the drive would be like. Thanks

@ lauramsgarden: Are you thinking of my description of the drive into the Poqueira Gorge? That was in Las Alpujarras, near Granada, not in the area around Ronda.

Well, I'm exactly your age and when we drove over the mountains from Málaga to Ronda we had no problems or discomforts - sure, it's mountain country, so there are curves, but with so little traffic there is nobody breathing down your neck, you go at your comfortable speed and enjoy the views.

We remember nothing worrisome either around Ronda - we simply drove into town and parked at the Astein location www.mastein.es/, then walked down to the bridge etc. Bring coins in case your credit card doesn't work in parking stations like that one (and others) - we saw no attendant and were stuck for a while until we went to make change.

Now if you want to brave the drive up to Trevélez, the highest village in Spain, in the alps near Granada, that's a bit of an adventure. But from Sevilla to Ronda it's pretty flat, and - as I said - from Ronda to Málaga it's picturesque and nice hilly driving.

I drove from Malaga to Grenada and back one day over the mountains - no sweat.

If you want to spend most of your time in cities take the train - if you want to wander thru the countryside also rent a car. No especial problems driving. Spain in a modern country.

oh excellent - yes KJA I probably was thinking of that. We live near Colorado so are used to some mountain roads - but I don't like the high passes I must admit. Ok...on to figuring out which country inn we want to stay in - any opinions about staying near Malaga vs near Ronda?

I didn't visit Malaga (though I'm sure I would enjoy it) and was happy to stay <b>in</b> Ronda at a hotel on the cliff's edge, with a stunning view over the surrounding countryside and off to mountains in the distance. I don't think that hotel exists anymore, so I won't make a recommendation.

We didn't stay in Málaga or Ronda, we came from Órgiva (nothing special) and pulled in for the night at Arcos de la Frontera - just winging it. Next day we continued to Seville.

Brought back wonderful memories of our own trip last year (ironically pretty much the same route minus nancy/metz) - beautiful pictures !

Apologies, misposted above !

Ronda is a gorgeous sight in itself but there is not much to the town to linger - a one day stay or even few-hour stay could suffice.

If you want the countryside, stay in a place near Ronda. Malaga is urban/suburban. The roads are fine, not to worry !